promptly

adverb

prompt·​ly ˈpräm(p)t-lē How to pronounce promptly (audio)
ˈpräm-plē
Synonyms of promptlynext
1
: in a prompt manner : without delay : very quickly or immediately
I'm going to speak French again, something I learned in school and promptly forgot.Deanna Pai
Treatment is promptly resumed until the virus is suppressed again, and then stopped to see if the patient's immune system is able to keep the viral levels in check.Joan Stephenson
2
: exactly at a particular time or the correct time
She arrived promptly at 7:00 p.m. as we had agreed.

Examples of promptly in a Sentence

shipped the package promptly so that it would arrive on time
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Dollander entered the game in the third inning and promptly struck out dangerous hitters Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber. Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026 Woods then jumped into his Cadillac Escalade and promptly ran over a fire hydrant and crashed into a neighbor’s tree. Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026 Her daughter raced home crying and her parents promptly reported the incident to Sacramento police that night. Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026 Their task would be to consult promptly with all relevant parties, test the political ground, and develop an operational mechanism that shipping companies, insurers, and governments can trust. Comfort Ero, Time, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for promptly

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of promptly was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Promptly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/promptly. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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